New Car.....
 

...... +++

I have to say that the D3 was a substantial leap in build, tech and comfort from the D2, and I didn't think that was achievable again. I was sure the D4 was just a bit more of the same.

but seems I was wrong....

Some of us will have test driven the D4, maybe at the Audi meet in Wales last year, but I think we got a bit distracted nailing it, and forgot to stand back and just admire it.

This particular car is 6 years old, and having covered nigh on 90K miles, I was expecting some wear & tear. The odd squeak, or rattle. And especially having been an Audi launch car, you'd expect it to show some signs of use by test pilots.

But nothing. If you told me it had 20K on the clock, it would seem most plausible.

The 4.2 Tdi V8 is so smooth and refined. You do have to remind yourself it is a diesel under there somewhere. Subtle clues are the 800nm of torque and the fact that with the 8 speed box it barely hits 1500rpm on the motorway...

The seats are just that bit better, the massage is hugely better, the instruments, controls and automation all work, just that much better. The MMI screen is bigger, the adaptive cruise works down to 0mph and all the way up to 155mph, the steering is lighter. The heated steering wheel is hotter, the brakes are better, the armrests even adjust more nicely.

The rear blind mechanism is redesigned and is quieter, The auto boot is smoother. The interior illumination is more distributed and highly configurable, I swear even the sunroof slides quieter.

The exterior is plain Jane, a real wolf in sheeps clothing. The interior looks fussy and cluttered in many photos - I never gave it much attention - but from the drivers eyeline, its beautiful. The level of details in the trims, is really pleasing to the eye. A well co-ordinated run of materials through the cabin delivered perfectly enough to leave even the most OCD obsessed with a smile on their face.

I really do like it.

I have a motto on my wall from Sir Clive Woodwood, and he speaks of improving his Rugby team not by radically changing anything, but by doing 100 things 1% better.

and that seems to be exactly what the D4 is +++

Very nicely put as always Ian, looking forward to seeing photos +++

The RS6 sounds a distant (but great) memory already :)

Ian, we shouldn't need to tell you that photos are a must! :)

Pics?? :D

I was impressed with the 4.2 Tdi Engine when i first drove it on the D4 launch when they lent me a car for the long weekend. I did find the 8 speed gears a tad frustrating at the lower end as they were constantly changing but apart from that loved everything else.

My D4 Extended Test Drive

The two are Chalk and cheese. Both built May 2010, in the same factory, but couldn't be any different really..... +++

And that was important, because if I got something that tried to be like the RS6, it would have failed miserably +++

I expected this....

but not within 6 minutes of posting... :p

Here you go:

Extended leather, deep useful door pockets and handy flip up lid at far end for smaller items:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957827

Comfort seat controls. Far too many controls for a 1 to 1, so the far end 4 way round control is a menu control for many many fine adjustments +++

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957827

Night vision and all weather headlights control

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957827

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957827

Armrests lift up in parallel, level. Not hinged from the rear.

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957827

Alcantara roof, sunroof, and you can just see the ambient light strips at the top of the B pillars:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957827

DVD changer, for when 1 movie on tap is just not enough... and cold air inlet for chilled glovebox viewable at the rear.

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957827

MMI and HVAC controls. All neatly laid out, and easily accessible when resting your write on the gear level as per Audis design....

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957827

Massage functions. Various ones, and varying intensities. Really very good ! much better than the D3 version that just wiggles the lumbar support about a bit...

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957857

Seat fine adjustment menu....

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957857


Main 3G Plus menu:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957857

Main DIS. Values were reset when I bought it. 200+ miles later and showing 35 mpg. Not bad at all +++

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957857

Ever wondered what a D2 looked like through infrared night vision? No probably not, but just in case:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957857

Reversing camera, same as D3 from what I can see. Larger screen on D4 is good though.

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957857

Drive Select. Lots of fine tuning if you want a slightly different ride:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957857

Main car settings menu:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957857

Leather dashboard. Moo. Perfectly done too. I've seen a few D3's with slightly wobbly stitching...

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957857

Passenger side wider shot:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957857

Interior lighting menu:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957888

Driver Assist menu:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957888

Cold feet ? Let me fix that for you sir....

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957888

Audi Privacy Handset, has phone book and O2 connection via rSap from my phone in the door pocket so the passenger can make a perfect quality call with external aerial in some privacy.

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957888

Heated steering wheel button has moved here where the easy entry / exit used to be. Easy entry/exit is now an MMI setting that is stored per user memory +++

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957888

Children in the back who have video consoles each, and also want to smoke? Sure. Er, we can do that too it seems.... :p

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957888

Rear climate / heated seat controls. Visually this looks like a flimsy armrest that plonks down onto the seat, but I now see its a very well constructed solid fitment and works really well +++

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957888

And finally the boot. Yes, shallower than the D2/D3, but does feel wider and more accessible. Two cubby holes either side, and also a space save spare wheel underneath. The auto boot action is incredibly smooth and quiet.....

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1457957888

+++

Tidy indeed. That is a nice spec car.

Very, very nice.

Not for me though - I doubt I'll live long enough to work it all out! :)

Lovely, lovely car. I think I'm going to have to seriously think about a D4 when I finally decide to move my D3 on....

Its surprisingly intuitive.

I took a rental car one way to go collect it. Got a Vauxhall insignia. Drove it for 4 hours and couldn't get on with it all. Its 'MMI' has a screen smaller than my wifes iPhone 5 (Seriously) and a similar rez, so you can't actually read it from the drivers seat without taking your eyes of the road and squinting.

5th and 6th gear were tough to access, so kept accidently cruising along in 4th... :rolleyes:

Its 'dis' is the same size as its 'mmi', and lower rez, so more useable, but despite being almost brand new, and an 'SRi' the whole car was a real disappointment.

As a kid, Vauxhall was my pin up poster manufacturer, but the tat they chuck out now is dreadful.

The point is, having never had a D4 before, I jumped in it, and within 5 minutes was happily heading for the motorway feeling completely in control of what was going on....

Its new, and better, but not strange...... +++

I think a D3 owner would love it. You're already used to the slightly less disconnected, air-suspension ride. The D4 is very much same, and its a shame in some respects, but it does make it very, very comfortable.

The D2 can be more sporty for sure. It doesn't matter what 'sport' bits you put on the D3 / D4, even the S8 is very much drive by wire (and air).

Don't get me wrong, both the D3 and D4 are astonishingly quick in a straight line, really, very fast, and although the D2 does it a little slower, it also gives you the feedback confidence it might actually go round the bend that's coming up... ;)

Looks great, congratulations! Packed full of toys and endless settings for almost everything.

What's fuel consumption like?

I did Glasgow to Newcastle, bit of tootling round Newcastle centre, then back down the A1 to Harrogate. Not trying for speed or economy but ended up with 35 mpg so far. Pretty pleased with that.

I was expecting nearer 30, but I think it will average down a bit yet when I get, ah hem, going with it +++

Congrats!

That's very, very nice! :)

I'd certainly consider a D4 if I can ever bring myself to part with my D2 S8.

Looks like a very nicely specced car.... I may end up in a nice D4 when it's time to swap the A7, if that time ever comes :)

You'll struggle to match the spec of the A7 though.... ;)

Spec does seem to be influencing the values on the D4 more so than I've seen on previous models.

The high spec ones seem fewer and further between. If you see one. Buy it. Or someone else will. They seem to be really hot property.

I'm wondering if has to do with this commission rule that Audi Uk has where I believe a dealership has to sell 2 A8's a month to get on the first rung of the commission ladder. Probably ends up with a lot of pre reg poverty spec examples flooding the nearly new market....

There seems to be a lot of low spec 3.0 Tdi sitting down as low as 15K now.

I suspect they are going to start eroding the D3 values quite heavily too.

Congrats, looks lovely +++

But I would say that, as it is almost identical to mine :ROFL:

Haha, yes. :D

Yours is fractionally higher spec than mine, I concede.

But I think mine was possibly slightly better value :p

Have you tested the upper end of that ACC yet then Ian? :ROFL:

Yep. I started with an early D2 and whilst it was, as you say, little more 'direct' in terms of handling I have to say that I MUCH prefer my D3.

It'll be another year or two yet, as the D3 has been very reliable and is still a joy, but I suspect I'll be hunting for a D4 when the time comes.

Welcome to the V8 D Club mate +++
Nice motor they certainly do go when required, i love mine :love:
All the best
Glyn

Not on this car....

The RS6 had the older version of ACC that 'only' went up to 120 mph, and that was actually quite a hindrance in Germany... so it was mainly switched off....

I can see this car making across to the continent, so it'll maybe get a workout then +++

Yes, stab it hard and the mph climbs. Fast.

A real none event in the cabin though. Very controlled and dignified +++

Time for a trip to MRC for you again then Ian...Ben quoted me 420BHP and 950+ Nm for a Stage 1 remap for that later V8T oil-burner. A nice cheap tweak !! +++:love:

Very nice purchase, photos and write up Ian.

A lesser man than I would be envious:mad:+++

You definitely got a good deal on it, but I'm not too upset with mine either :D

I agree with your views on high cars being very spec sensitive, as you know they sell in hours if the spec is right often at a premium!

Looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of mine soon, the dealer tells me it is almost ready now +++

I need to work out a heated wheel retrofit for next winter, that's the only option I think I'll miss when the current courtesy car goes back but with the onset of summer, I'll survive!

Beautiful +++

The D2 is a legend, I couldn't even compare it with a D3/4. It's up there as one of the greatest Audi's ever made IMO.

Btw, nice car, Ian. Right engine, and as expected, good spec! Much better than the S5 cab idea. If you ever miss RS ownership, I've not even done 100 miles in mine this year, you're welcome to take for a blast. +++

I've been driving my D2 back to back with the D4. They are so chalk and cheese. The D2 definitely has some soul in it that Audi stopped installing years ago.... Can't fault the modern tech as a transport method though.

I couldn't bring myself to settle for the 3.0Tdi.... I had one once, and 'never again' were words I muttered at the time...

Well, if you insist... I might just take you up on that some time +++

Time for a new sig ?

Sorry couldn't help but notice. Probably due too your high turn over of cars:ROFL:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...5&d=1458512365

My sig is just fine. Its just not mobile optimised, so simply get a bigger device +++

:ROFL: I have just found theres an option to turn them off so no need to order a 27" 5K Imac +++

LOL Del think of the battery time you'll save on your phone now! :D

TOLD YOU +++
So when are you remapping it :D

I really wasn't having a Tdi back then..... +++

Not sure on a remap.

Drove it yesterday for the first time since I arrived home in it after buying it (!)

Its definitely a motorway cruiser.

A lovely drive. Very effortless. Wasn't expecting a very sporty feel given the D4 S8 struggles to get round corners also....